Paul Burton

Spending increases in New York City's $78.5 billion budget merit a good, hard look, according to a nonpartisan budget watchdog organization.

The state Senate last week did not confirm four of five appointees by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board.

Pennsylvania lawmakers over the weekend advanced a $30 billion budget that barring a compromise appears headed for a veto by Gov. Tom Wolf.

The possibility of an underfunded capital plan begs the question of whether the MTA, already a large municipal issuer, may have to borrow even more.

The Connecticut treasurer’s office for the 15th straight year has received a Treasury Certificates of Achievement for Excellence from the Government Finance Officers Association.

Scranton Mayor William Courtright called for the transfer of the city’s teetering pension fund to the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System, an independent state agency.

Scranton disregarded pension laws in its payment of double benefits to 35 employees over the last 12 years at a cost of $2.9 million, said Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale.

Further delays in obtaining a five-year capital plan could mean even more delays for the East Side Access project to bring the Long Island Rail Road to Grand Central, said New York MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast.

In a new book on the city’s financial collapse, investigative reporter and author Chris Papst calls Harrisburg, Pa. a crime victim for which justice has yet to materialize.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council agree on a $78.5 billion fiscal 2016 budget for New York City that includes 1,300 new police officers.

The finance committee of New York's MTA approved a motion to authorize the use of variable rate refunding bonds in connection with targeted refunding bonds.

New York MTA board member Allen Cappelli proposed adding $30 million to the authority’s budget to restore more services that were cut in 2010.

Rhode Island asset manager Michael Riley has asked the SEC to examine the Providence, R.I., pension fund over a $62 million spike in its unfunded liability.

New York MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast remains confident in getting approval of a five-year capital program, which is sitting in limbo.

New York’s MTA launches a $250,000 railroad grade crossing safety campaign with nonprofit advocacy group Operation Lifesaver.

Rhode Island’s Senate finance committee is scheduled to vote on a proposed $8.7 billion state budget one day after the House approved it unanimously.

The inability of the Penn Hills, Pa., School District to obtain full bridge financing it needed for payroll and operating expenses is a credit negative, said Moody’s.

Rhode Island General Treasurer Seth Magaziner is nominating Robert Benson, Marie Langlois and Marcia Reback to the State Investment Commission and Marianne Monte to the State Retirement Board.

Connecticut lawmakers will convene this month to debate Gov. Dannel Malloy’s proposed business tax reductions, which he announced after pushback from major corporations.

Pennsylvania is but one pension battleground state amid a landscape of insolvency, court actions and settlements.